Removable flap for nametags and other information

ABSTRACT

A fabric flap that attaches to Velcro® hook and loop fasteners found on conventional uniforms has an outside surface with Velcro® fastening to attach nametags or other insignia. An additional rectangular flap extends below the Velcro® fastening surfaces for attachment of additional insignia, such as information valuable during instruction, meetings, or other assemblies of personal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION- BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to removable flaps that attach to uniforms or other clothing. Information such as name, rank, position, or otherwise are removably attached to the flap, with fastening means such as hook and loop fasteners, commonly known as Velcro ®.

2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed under 37 C.F.R. §§1.97, 1.98

French, U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,866 B1, shows a removable nametag or insignia that is placed on a uniform or garment with a hook-loop system like the product sold under the registered trademark Velcro®. A flexible back sheet is sewn or otherwise attached to the garment or uniform piece with a set of loops facing outward. A nametag or insignia, either rigid or flexible, is equipped with a set of hooks on its backside. The nametag or insignia is then pressed onto the back sheet when the member is to be worn. For laundering or other maintenance of the garment, the nametag or insignia is removed. Numerous garments can contain back sheets with loop material in the correct position. When the user wants to wear one of them, he or she simply presses the nametag or insignia into position. In this manner a single nametag or insignia can service a wardrobe of garments. The method allows nametags and insignia to be removably worn without making pin or postholes in garments.

Klein, U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,275 shows an identification badge which is provided to enable hospital personnel to be identified in a delivery room but not pose a danger of scratching neonatal infants. The badge contains a loop fabric layer and a hook fabric layer of a hook and loop fastener, one of said fabric layers bearing identification indicia and the other being attachable to the fabric of a wearer's outer garment through a penetrating fastener. A rigid support member, substantially smaller than either fabric layer is positioned between them and serves as an anchor for the penetrating fastener.

Another method of removably attaching name tags is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,331 issued to Mattson. Mattson shows a self-adhering badge assembly comprises a pair of separable substantially flat badge panels adapted to be placed in face-to-face clamping assembly alignment with a selected area of an article of clothing clamped between the panels and thereby supporting the badge assembly in place on the article of clothing. Each of the panels has a similar substantially flat core comprising magnetic material, such as magnetic tape providing N and S poles at opposite sides of the panel, with the poles of one of the panels in complementary orientation relative to the poles of the other of the panels. The core of each of the panels may be enclosed in a respective laminated plastic film jacket. The outer face of the outer panel has indicia display means. The core of each panel may comprise a laminate of the magnetic material and a rigid ferromagnetic core plate.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A fabric flap, in the shape of a T, attaches to a uniform or other clothing through Velcro® hook and loop fastening means, interposed between the fabric flap and the clothing, that form the top of the T. On the outside side of the T Velcro® hook or loop fastening means is also located, intended to interface and connect with the either hook or loop fastening means, located on the inside surface of the visible nametag or other insignia, to be attached to the top of the T on the outside. An elongated flap extends below the top of the T, and forms the upright of the T. This flap is fabric and enables additional information, such as military engagement information chevrons, medals, position information, or a myriad of other information to be removably attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the T shaped fabric flap according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the T shaped fabric flap before the flap is folded and sewn to its final shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is best understood with reference to the drawings. As seen in FIG. 1, a T shaped fabric flap (1) has Velcro® hook and loop fastening means (2) and (3) on opposite sides of the flap, forming the cross-portion of the T, across the top of the fabric flap (4) that forms the upright of the T shape. The fabric flap (4) extends several inches, as much as necessary, below the cross-portion of the T shape. The Velcro® functions to attach the T shaped flap to hook or loop fastening means found on a uniform or other clothing. A conventional nametag (5) or other informational tag is attached to the outside Velcro® (3) of the cross-portion of the T shaped flap in the manner as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,866 to French.

Fabric flap (4) extends below the cross-portion of the T shape, to attach additional information. Chevrons, or other medals can be easily attached with pins, or other means through the fabric flap. Other information, for instance “Instructor”, “Committee Chairman”, “Section President”, and a myriad of other information, is easily attachable to the fabric flap extending downward from the Velcro® attachment means. When used in this manner, the information usually found in plastic coated badges with pins is not pinned to the uniform or other clothing, causing damage to the fabric. Rather, the pinning is done to the fabric of the flap, which is inexpensive and easily replaceable, unlike an expensive suit or uniform. In this case, the rank and name of a soldier, “Sgt. James Kimble, US Army”, is found on the cross-portion of the T, as conventionally know. In addition, however, the information “Assistant Explosive Ordnance Disposal Instructor” is pinned to the fabric flap.

FIG. 2 shows the fabric flap before final folding and assembly. The rectangular section of fabric (6) is folded along the broken lines (7), and (8), then along the line (9). The hook and loop sections (2) and (3) are then sewn together on opposite sides of the folded flap, a hook section on one side of the folded fabric and a loop section on the opposite side. By sewing through the hook and loop sections, with the folded fabric flap interposed between the hook and loop sections, the flap is easily assembled together in one sewing operation. The folded fabric flap of course can be ironed or otherwise heated to facilitate the final folding operation, either before or after sewing the device together. Reinforcing means (10), such as a rigid plastic planar sheet, or stiff fabric, can be optionally inserted between the inside and outside fabric faces before assembly. The reinforcing means (10) adds structural integrity to the device. This is particularly advantageous when the flap is utilized in high wind or strenuous physical activity, for instance.

In use, the fabric flap attaches directly to the Velcro® fastening means conventionally found on uniforms used by police and military. When it is desirable to publish additional information on the outside of the uniforms, the usual nametag attached to the Velcro® can be removed. The fabric flap of the instant invention can be attached to the Velcro® of the uniform, and the nametag attached to the Velcro® found on the opposite side of the fabric flap. Then the additional information can be attached to the flap that extends below the Velcro® fasteners. This is just one example of the use of this invention. It could be used with a suit for meetings to identify speakers, representatives of various organizations, or other information valuable to participants of organizational assemblies. The device could be attached on the chest, or other portion of outer clothing, such as the legs or arms, as desired.

Although the drawings and description show the device is a T shape, it is expressly understood that a simple rectangle is also equally useful. Also, attachment means other than Velcro® is considered equivalent, such as threaded pins and corresponding clamping means, or magnetic clamping means. 

1. A flat fabric flap with an inside surface and an outside surface, for attachment to an article of clothing, comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein fastening means are securely attached to both the inside surface and outside surface of the upper portion of the fabric flap, wherein the fastening means are intended to attach the inside surface of the upper portion of the fabric flap to an article of clothing, and to attach informational insignia to the outside surface of the upper portion of the fabric flap, wherein the lower portion of the fabric flap extends below the fastening means, whereby additional information can be removably attached to the outside surface of the lower portion of the fabric flap.
 2. The fabric flap of claim 1 wherein the fastening means comprise hook and loop fasteners.
 3. The fabric flap of claim 2 wherein the fabric is woven cloth.
 4. The fabric flap of claim 2 wherein the fabric is thermoplastic scrim.
 5. The fabric flap of claim 2 wherein the upper portion and lower portion are both rectangular and intersect to form a T. 